Shraddha

The Hindu ritual in remembrance of the departed ancestors.

In Hinduism shraddha is the ritual in remembrance of deceased ancestors. The word is related to shraddha in the sense of faith and devotion: the offering is made with a sincere heart. According to the tradition it supports the dead, the pitrs, and brings blessing to the descendants.

A shraddha is held on the day of death of a parent or ancestor according to the lunar calendar, the tithi, and especially during Pitru Paksha, the two weeks of the ancestors in the month of Bhadrapada, around September and October. Someone who does not know the day of death holds the shraddha on Mahalaya Amavasya, the new moon with which Pitru Paksha ends.

The ritual often includes tarpan, offering water with black sesame, and pindas: balls of cooked rice, sometimes with sesame and ghee. Food is offered to brahmins, to the poor, to cows and to crows, which in many families are connected with the ancestors. Traditionally the eldest son performs the acts, but customs differ by family and region, and a pandit often guides.

Shraddha plays a large role in dream interpretation. A dream in which a deceased parent asks for food or water, seems hungry or is sad is read in many families as a sign that the ancestor wants to be remembered. After such a dream a shraddha is held, water is offered or something is given to those in need. An ancestor who appears content or blessing counts as a sign that all is well.

In the Netherlands and Suriname shraddha is kept mainly in Hindustani families. Dreamkin does not prescribe rituals; someone with questions after a dream discusses them with family or the family pandit.